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Local shops see slight sales uptick

Dan Foracker looks into the window of Goumas Candyland in downtown Newark on Small Business Saturday. Foracker, who wasn’t aware it was small business Saturday, said he and his wife prefer to shop locally anyway to support the economy and bring vibrancy back to communities.(Photo: Jessica Phelps/The Advocate)Buy Photo

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NEWARK – There were no long, snarling lines, no mad dashes for discounted merchandise, but downtown shops had a steady trickle of customers for Small Business Saturday.

It wasn’t overwhelming business, but it was good business, said Amanda Stickdorn, manager at Linnet’s Flowers on the Square.

“It’s not a ton more than usual, but it picks up a little bit,” Stickdorn said. “We get pretty good business. We’ll always encourage more.”

Regina and Randy Williams spend every Small Business Saturday in downtown Newark, they said. They never shop with any particular purchase in mind; they just wander in and out of stores, getting ideas and seeing what’s available.

To the Williamses, it’s a matter of showing support for local businesses.

This year, they found a couple books at the new Kicks Mix book store on Third Street.

“I grew up in Newark, and I’m old enough to remember when Newark was where you came to buy things,” Randy said. “When are they going to be able to do something to make downtown someplace people want to go again?”

Kim McCoy loves the personal feel of shops in Newark, she said. She likes being able to peruse each store without pressure.

“I love being able to go into the businesses down here, and people recognize you,” she said. “It’s fun. You can get away from the pressure of Black Friday and thinking that you have to buy something because it’s only on sale that day.”

Several shoppers were unaware it was Small Business Saturday. Rather, their goal is to shop local whenever they’re able, they said.

Pam Groomes is downtown nearly every day running some errand or other, she said. She actually teared up on the sidewalk outside Linnet’s Flowers, talking about small businesses, historic downtowns and how so many of them seem to crumble into disrepair.

Groomes just moved back to Ohio from Florida about a year and a half ago. she said. She loves downtown areas such as Newark’s, and she hopes people recognize their value before it’s too late.

“I just see so many historical areas are not being properly handled and taken care of,” she said. “It’s important. It’s really important to take care of what we have and preserve it.”

American Express started Small Business Saturday in 2010, encouraging shoppers across the country to support small, local businesses.

According to the National Retail Federation, sales in November and December account for as much as 30 percent of retailers’ annual sales and make up nearly 20 percent of the industry’s $3.2 trillion in annual sales.

The federation forecasts sales in November and December will be up 4.1 percent — $617 billion — from last year.

Locally, downtown stores are gaining momentum from the ReNewark revitalization, new stores, loft apartments and streetscapes in conjunction with the sewer separation project.

Stickdorn, from Linnet’s, is steeling herself for a headache or two during the actual renovation process — when the streets are torn up in front of her shop — but long-term, she thinks it will be well worth it. More local retail shops are already moving to the area, and Stickdorn thinks even more will follow suit after the renovations, giving people a host of convenient, quality, local options.

Kicks Mix manager Kerry Shannon, 20, has a similar opinion. Anything that drives more business to local shops, the better, she said.

“Because you’re supporting a family,” she said. “You’re keeping us afloat, and you’re keeping Newark a local community rather than just having (chain stores) all around.”